The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 12 suspected armed robbers connected to the violent attack that claimed the lives of Arise News anchor, Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, at Unique Apartments, Gishiri Village, Katampe District, Abuja.
Gossip News Now reports that the tragic incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on September 29, 2025, plunging both the media community and residents of the area into deep mourning.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the police said the arrests were made following a directive from the FCT Commissioner of Police to track down and apprehend the assailants.
Operatives of the Scorpion Squad, led by ACP Victor Godfrey, executed the arrests based on what the police described as “actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence” provided by Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB STRATOC. The operation spanned several locations across the FCT and neighbouring states.
The arrested suspects were identified as:
Shamsudeen Hassan (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State); Hassan Isah, 22 (Zaria, Kaduna State); Abubakar Alkamu a.k.a. Abba, 27 (Musawa LGA, Katsina State); Sani Sirajo a.k.a. Dan Borume, 20 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State); Mashkur Jamilu a.k.a. Abba, 28 (Igabi LGA, Kaduna State); Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. Dan-Sule, 21 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State); Abdul Salam Saleh a.k.a. Na-Durudu (Katsina LGA, Katsina State); Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. Gwaska, 23 (Chikun LGA, Kaduna State); Musa Adamu a.k.a. Musa Hassan, 30 (Malumfashi LGA, Katsina State); Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. Baby, 27 (Sammaka LGA, Kaduna State); Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. Abbati, 25 (Zaria LGA, Kaduna State); and Musa Umar a.k.a. Small, 31 (Maiduguri LGA, Borno State).
Investigators disclosed that four suspects — including Hassan Isah and Abubakar Alkamu — were initially tracked through the use of mobile phones stolen from the victims.
During interrogation, Hassan reportedly confessed to shooting the security guard, Danlami, after he tried to resist the gang’s entry into the compound.
Another suspect, Sirajo, admitted to struggling with Maduagwu during the incident, claiming he tried to stop her from falling off the building but was “overpowered by her weight.”
The police further revealed that the gang sold several stolen items after the attack, with each member allegedly receiving about ₦200,000 as their share of the loot.
Recovered items from the suspects include:
- One locally fabricated AK-47 rifle
- 36 rounds of 9mm live ammunition
- One locally made pistol
- One pump-action gun
- Two live cartridges
- Four mobile phones belonging to the victims
- Two sharp knives
- A cutlass
- Nine torchlights used during the operation
The command added that on October 8, operatives intercepted additional members of the gang — including Musa Umar and Hassan Isah — while they were reportedly en route to carry out another planned robbery in Maitama, Abuja.
“All suspects have confessed to the crimes. Investigation is ongoing, and further updates will be communicated in due course,” the statement read.
The police also noted that the photographs of the suspects were being withheld to avoid jeopardizing efforts to apprehend other accomplices still at large.
